College students across Alabama who have launched businesses and developed products now have the opportunity to compete for funding and statewide exposure through the Innovate Alabama Student Innovation Competition.

The competition, which will take place during the Next in Tech track at Sloss Tech in Birmingham, is designed to spotlight and accelerate Alabama’s most promising student entrepreneurs. Finalists will pitch their companies live before investors, founders, business leaders, and attendees at the annual Sloss Tech conference.

Applications are open to currently enrolled students attending Alabama two-year colleges and four-year universities. To qualify, students must already have a legally formed business registered in Alabama.

The competition is open to a wide range of ventures, including physical products such as consumer goods, manufactured products, hardware and medical devices, as well as technology-driven businesses including software applications, mobile apps, digital tools and other innovation-focused companies.

Students interested in applying must submit a two- to three-minute video pitch between June 1 and June 10. According to the competition information, judges will review and score submissions from June 11 through June 17 before selecting the top 10 finalists.

The top 10 finalists will be announced June 19 and invited to compete in the live pitch event at Sloss Tech. Finalists will also receive complimentary tickets to the conference, although participants will be responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.

The live pitch competition is scheduled for Friday, June 26 at 9 a.m. during the Next in Tech track at Sloss Tech.

Prize awards include: First place: $20,000. Second place: $10,000. Third place: $5,000.

The competition is designed to help promising student-led companies gain exposure and compete for funding that can help move their businesses forward.

In addition to the video pitch, applicants must provide business information, enrollment verification, a business overview, and links to company websites or social media accounts as part of the submission process.

The competition is part of a broader effort to support Alabama’s growing community of entrepreneurs and encourage students to build businesses within the state.

The event will give student founders from across Alabama the opportunity to showcase their ideas while competing for funding and exposure at Sloss Tech.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].